Native plants · North Carolina

Native plants of Robeson County

566 plant species are recorded as native to North Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Robeson County by USDA PLANTS. 246 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 4 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Robeson County, North Carolina

Native species: 566 Typical North Carolina county: 498 (median of 100 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 246 Typical North Carolina county: 208
Share by type (all 566 native species): Percent of the 566 native species in each growth type

Tree 14% (80)
Shrub 8% (43)
Wildflower (forb) 50% (282)
Grass or grass-like 21% (121)
Vine 6% (32)
Fern 1% (8)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (50%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 246

Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.

Garden-ready native plants of Robeson County, North Carolina
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
American beautyberry Callicarpa americana	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6b
American beech Fagus grandifolia	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
American bur-reed Sparganium americanum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American cupscale Sacciolepis striata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American holly Ilex opaca	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American lotus Nelumbo lutea	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American snowbell Styrax americanus	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 5b
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American wisteria Wisteria frutescens	Vine	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
Atlantic mannagrass Glyceria obtusa	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
bald cypress Taxodium distichum	Tree	130 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
bedstraw St. Johnswort Hypericum galioides	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolius	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 4b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
black oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
black raspberry Rubus occidentalis	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
blue huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
bog rush Juncus biflorus	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
bushy St. Johnswort Hypericum densiflorum	Shrub	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 8a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Carolina ash Fraxinus caroliniana	Tree	39 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7b
Carolina redroot Lachnanthes caroliana	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
coastal doghobble Leucothoe axillaris	Shrub	6.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 7b
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana	Tree	33 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
coastal sweetpepperbush Clethra alnifolia	Shrub	16 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
comfortroot Hibiscus aculeatus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Tree	55 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
common rush Juncus effusus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
common serviceberry Amelanchier arborea	Tree	36 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
common sweetleaf Symplocos tinctoria	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
common winterberry Ilex verticillata	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
coppery St. Johnswort Hypericum denticulatum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7b
coral greenbrier Smilax walteri	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
cucumberleaf sunflower Helianthus debilis	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 9b
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
dense blazing star Liatris spicata	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12a
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa	Tree	20 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
dwarf azalea Rhododendron atlanticum	Shrub	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
dwarf huckleberry Gaylussacia dumosa	Shrub	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
dwarf witchalder Fothergilla gardenii	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6b
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
fetterbush lyonia Lyonia lucida	Shrub	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7b
field paspalum Paspalum laeve	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
forked rush Juncus dichotomus	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
golden crownbeard Verbesina encelioides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
groundnut Apios americana	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
Gulf Sebastian-bush Ditrysinia fruticosa	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
hairy chaffhead Carphephorus paniculatus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 8a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
halberdleaf rosemallow Hibiscus laevis	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6a
haspan flatsedge Cyperus haspan	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
honeycup Zenobia pulverulenta	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7b
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7b
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
inkberry Ilex glabra	Shrub	8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus	Wildflower (forb)	9.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
lanceleaf greenbrier Smilax smallii	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
large gallberry Ilex coriacea	Tree	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
laurel greenbrier Smilax laurifolia	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
laurel oak Quercus laurifolia	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
little barley Hordeum pusillum	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
loblolly bay Gordonia lasianthus	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
loblolly pine Pinus taeda	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
longleaf pine Pinus palustris	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
longspike tridens Tridens strictus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 2a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina	Shrub	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
narrowleaf evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
needleleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium aciculare	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 7b
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
New York aster Symphyotrichum novi-belgii	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
northern red oak Quercus rubra	Tree	81 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
overcup oak Quercus lyrata	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
peelbark St. Johnswort Hypericum fasciculatum	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	—	Zone 7b
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
peppervine Nekemias arborea	Vine	1 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
pine barren goldenrod Solidago fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
pineland threeawn Aristida stricta	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 8a
planertree Planera aquatica	Tree	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
pond cypress Taxodium ascendens	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 8a
poorland flatsedge Cyperus compressus	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
pumpkin ash Fraxinus profunda	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
red buckeye Aesculus pavia	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
red maple Acer rubrum	Tree	68 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
red mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
redbay Persea borbonia	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
roundpod St. Johnswort Hypericum cistifolium	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
running oak Quercus pumila	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
sand blackberry Rubus cuneifolius	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
sarvis holly Ilex amelanchier	Tree	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 8b
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
shaggy blazing star Liatris pilosa	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
shallow sedge Carex lurida	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
shortbeard plumegrass Saccharum brevibarbe	Grass or grass-like	6.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
southern bayberry Morella caroliniensis	Tree	7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
southern red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
southern waxy sedge Carex glaucescens	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6a
Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides	Vine	—	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 9b
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
stiff dogwood Cornus foemina	Tree	16 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sugarberry Celtis laevigata	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp cottonwood Populus heterophylla	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
swamp doghobble Eubotrys racemosus	Shrub	13 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus	Shrub	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
swamp rose Rosa palustris	Shrub	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius	Wildflower (forb)	5.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
swamp titi Cyrilla racemiflora	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 6b
swamp tupelo Nyssa biflora	Tree	115 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
sweetbay Magnolia virginiana	Tree	60 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 9a
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
turkey oak Quercus laevis	Tree	40 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
Virginia iris Iris virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
water oak Quercus nigra	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
water tupelo Nyssa aquatica	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
wax myrtle Morella cerifera	Tree	10 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
white avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
willow oak Quercus phellos	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
winged elm Ulmus alata	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
woolly rosette grass Dichanthelium scabriusculum	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
wrinkled jointtail grass Coelorachis rugosa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 320

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

Adam's needle Yucca filamentosa
Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
American bluehearts Buchnera americana
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
annual phlox Phlox drummondii
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
axilflower Mecardonia acuminata
Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
big carpetgrass Axonopus furcatus
bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
blood panicgrass Dichanthelium consanguineum
bluestem pricklypoppy Argemone albiflora
bog white violet Viola lanceolata
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
bunched beaksedge Rhynchospora cephalantha
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
chinquapin Castanea pumila
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
clasping water horehound Lycopus amplectens
claspingleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum gymnanthum
clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
coastal lovegrass Eragrostis refracta
coastal plain blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium fuscatum
coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
combleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pectinata
common carpetgrass Axonopus fissifolius
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
crested yellow orchid Platanthera cristata
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
cylindricfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia glandulosa
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
darkgreen sedge Carex venusta
densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
Dillenius' ticktrefoil Desmodium glabellum
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
downy ragged goldenrod Solidago petiolaris
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
drumheads Polygala cruciata
dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
dwarf violet iris Iris verna
eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern silver aster Symphyotrichum concolor
eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
Eaton's rosette grass Dichanthelium spretum
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
erect centella Centella erecta
erect spiderling Boerhavia erecta
fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
false flowering spurge Euphorbia pubentissima
fewflower beaksedge Rhynchospora rariflora
fewflower milkweed Asclepias lanceolata
fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
flattened pipewort Eriocaulon compressum
Florida mudmidget Wolffiella gladiata
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
Florida yellow flax Linum floridanum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
flypoison Amianthium muscitoxicum
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
foxtail clubmoss Lycopodiella alopecuroides
fragrant spikesedge Kyllinga odorata
fringed nutrush Scleria ciliata
giant sedge Carex gigantea
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
grassleaf lettuce Lactuca graminifolia
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
greater marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum walteri
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
greenvein lady's tresses Spiranthes praecox
Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
justiceweed Eupatorium leucolepis
kiss me quick Portulaca pilosa
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
lesser clearweed Pilea fontana
lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
loosehead beaksedge Rhynchospora chalarocephala
low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
Maryland milkwort Polygala mariana
mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
minute duckweed Lemna perpusilla
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
narrow plumegrass Saccharum baldwinii
narrowleaf lespedeza Lespedeza angustifolia
narrowleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia linearis
narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
neckweed Veronica peregrina
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
nodding beaksedge Rhynchospora inexpansa
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
Nuttall's ticktrefoil Desmodium nuttallii
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
pale dock Rumex altissimus
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
pineywoods dropseed Sporobolus junceus
pink sundew Drosera capillaris
plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
Plukenet's flatsedge Cyperus plukenetii
poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
poorjoe Diodia teres
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
procession flower Polygala incarnata
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
queen's-delight Stillingia sylvatica
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
red milkweed Asclepias rubra
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
rough Mexican clover Richardia scabra
roughfruit scaleseed Spermolepis divaricata
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
running serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sand hickory Carya pallida
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
shortleaf skeletongrass Gymnopogon brevifolius
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
slender blue iris Iris prismatica
slender clubmoss Lycopodiella caroliniana
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smallflower baby blue eyes Nemophila aphylla
smallflower thoroughwort Eupatorium semiserratum
smallfruit spikerush Eleocharis microcarpa
smooth elephantsfoot Elephantopus nudatus
smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
smooth winterberry Ilex laevigata
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
snowy orchid Platanthera nivea
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spoonleaf sundew Drosera intermedia
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
squirreltail fescue Vulpia elliotea
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
standing-cypress Ipomopsis rubra
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
swamp leather flower Clematis crispa
swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
swollen bladderwort Utricularia inflata
tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
threadleaf false foxglove Agalinis setacea
three-lobe violet Viola triloba
thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
twining snoutbean Rhynchosia tomentosa
twisted spikerush Eleocharis tortilis
velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
Virginia bunchflower Veratrum virginicum
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
watershield Brasenia schreberi
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
weak rush Juncus debilis
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
white colicroot Aletris farinosa
white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whorled tickseed Coreopsis verticillata
whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
wild Job's tears Onosmodium virginianum
wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
woollysheath threeawn Aristida lanosa
Wright's plantain Plantago wrightiana
yankeeweed Eupatorium compositifolium
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
yellow spikerush Eleocharis flavescens
yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata

Also listed as native and introduced here 4

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
Mexican teaDysphania ambrosioides
switchcaneArundinaria tecta

Compared with North Carolina

The typical county is the median of the 100 North Carolina counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.

Native species counts, Robeson County and North Carolina
Measure	Robeson County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	566	498	1,920
Garden-ready natives	246	208	654
Tree	80	—	198
Shrub	43	—	107
Wildflower (forb)	282	—	996
Grass or grass-like	121	—	453
Vine	32	—	80
Fern	8	—	86

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Robeson County.

Bladen County, NC 252 garden-ready
Cumberland County, NC 262 garden-ready
Hoke County, NC 164 garden-ready
Scotland County, NC 180 garden-ready

Source & data date

Source: USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).; Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.; USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.; Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date: Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope: Robeson County (county FIPS 37155), North Carolina. 566 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
Method: A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources

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